Risk and vulnerability ethnography: Effects and territorial adaptations evidenced by the F27 earthquake in Santa Clara, Talcahuano city, Chile

Abstract

This article identifies and analyzes visions of different stakeholders regarding the so-called F27 based on an ethnographic methodology and it is focused on how individuals distinguish what risk is and what is not. This has been as a result of the configuration of the vulnerability and risk conditions sorted into four socio-historical moments from early twentieth century to the post earthquake reconstruction in 2010. Considering these events, our interest lays on presenting processes that configure different environmental relationships to natural events and at the same time reflect changes in the styles of economic development. Therefore, this article sets out to explain the repercussions of the development policies in Talcahuano and how it affected its inhabitants, the usage of the territory and the Santa Clara settlement itself.